Filing means



W. G. ANDERS FILING MEANS Aug. 2, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2, 1963 INVENTOR Ml. TEK 6. AAI/offs.

Afro/NEX W. G. ANDERS Aug. 2, 1966 FILING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2, 1963 INVENTOR. W'E 6. ANDI/e5.

l all United States Patent O 3,263,688 FILING MEANS Walter G. Anders, Tonawanda, N.Y., assigner to Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 327,434

2 Claims. (Cl. 129--16.7)

This invention relates to filing `devices and more particularly to filing means which provide indexing information to documents and the like stored in filing cabinets or drawers.

An object of the present invention is to provide novel ling means wherein an index tab adapted for sliding engagement on a reinforcement member secured -to the edge of a le folder, index card and the like, is easily and quickly mounted and detached from the reinforcement member.

Another object is to provide novel tiling means wherein a simple and inexpensive index tab is adapted for slidable and selective positioning along a bar or reinforcement member secured to the edge of a le folder, index card and the like.

Still another object is to provide filing means wherein a reinforcement member or bar is securely fastened to the edge of a le holder, index card and the like, and an index tab is adapted to ride on said bar and positively retained in selected positions thereon by cavities formed in the bar which cooperate with means on the index tab.

The present invention contemplate-s novel filing means wherein an edge of a tile folder, index card and the like, is provided with a longitudinally extending reinforcement member or bar which has deformed portions or depressions thereon to securely fasten the bar to the file folder or index card. Some of the depressions formed serve as stops which cooperate with an indentation or projection on an index tab whereby the latter may be selectively positioned along the edge of the folder or card. The index tab has a pair of legs which straddle the reinforcement member or bar and a leg thereof has a right angle toe portion in engagement with an adjacent leg of the reinforcement member to prevent movement of the index tab in a direction transversely of the reinforcement member yand away from the iile folder or index card. In a second embodiment of the invention, a leg of the index tab has a toe portion which is bent in substantially U-shaped manner and extends into a space between a leg of the reinforcement member or bar and the file folder to securely mount the tab on the reinforcement member.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings, wherein two embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

FIG. l is a perspective and fragmentary View of the filing means of the present invention as employed in a hanging type le folder;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the index tab alone utilized with the reinforcement member or bar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 `and enlarged for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a perspective and fragmentary View of a filing means constituting a `second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and enlarged for clarity.

Referring now to the drawings for a more detailed description of the present invention and more particularly to FIG. l, the filing means of the present invention is disclosed as utilized in a hanging type le folder although it will be readily understood that the present invention is as well applicable to index cards, and the like. The filing means of FIG. 1 is generally designated by the reference numeral 11 and comprises a le holder 13 having folder leaves 15 and 17 joined at 19. Folder leaves 15 and 17 have upper edges 21 and 23, respectively, and mounted on each of said edges are identical reinforcement members or bars 25 having hooks 27 for mounting folder 13 on parallel rods (not shown) in a file drawer (not shown) in a manner well understood to those skilled in the art. Member 25 may be made of metal or plastic and is formed in a U-shaped manner to provide a pair of legs 29 and 31 (FIG. 3) which straddle the upper edges 21 or 23 and adjacent portions of the folder. Two rows of depressions 33 and 35 are formed in leg 29 which do not extend completely through the leg but which serve to distort or deforin the adjacent portions of folder leaf 15 in the manner shown in FIG. 3 to clinch leg 29 to the folder leaf. Depressions 33 and 35 extend longitudinally of member 25 (FIG. 1) in horizontal alignment and associated pairs of said depressions are in vertical alignment. A row of depressions 37 is formed in leg 31 of member 25 and extend longitudinally of the latter and in horizontal alignment. Each of the depressions 37 has associated therewith a pair of vertically aligned depressions 33 and 35 in leg 29 and each depression 37 is disposed in vertical alignment with and intermediate the depressions 33 and 35. Depression 37 in similar manner to depressions 33 and 35 does not extend through leg 31 but deforms the adjacent surface of folder leaf 15 and cooperates with the adjacent pair of depressions 33 and 35 to securely clinch the member 25 to the folder leaf.

An index tab '40 is provided for detachable mounting on reinforcement members or bars 25 and comprises a Substantially upright label carrying portion 42 which is slightly inclined to the horizontal as seen. in FIG. 3. Portion 42 is provided with a window or opening 44 through which a label (not shown) bearing indexing information may be viewed and a smaller opening 46 which together with opening 44 permits the fingers of the user to grip the label (not shown) for removing same from portion 42. Formed integrally with index tab 42 is a depending portion 47 of substantially U-shaped configuration in transverse cross section along a portion thereof and having a bight portion 48 and flexible parallel legs 50 and 52 which straddle reinforcement member lor bar 25. As best seen in FIG. 2, leg 52 is struck out of leg 50 forming an yopening 54 in leg 50. An indentation or projection 56 is formed on leg 52 and has a convex surface (FIG. 3) which is adapted to seat in any one of the depressions 37 on leg 31 of reinforcement member or bar 25. Legs 50 and 52 of portion 47 of index tab 40 extend parallel to each other and are in engagement with their associated legs 29 and 31, respectively, of member 25. The lower edge of leg 50 is bent at right angles to form a toe portion 58 (FIG. 3) which engages the lower edge surface of leg 29 whereby movement of tab 40 in a direction upwardly (as seen in FIG. 3) is prevented.

By reason of the foregoing construction, tab may be readily mounted on member 25 by first placing the toe portion 58 of leg 50 in engagement with leg 29 of bar 25 and moving index tab 40 downwardly until leg 52 engages its associated leg 31. Due to the flexible nature of legs 50 and 52 the latter spread apart until toe 58 moves below the lower edge of leg 29 to snap into place at such point, whereby tab 40 is located as shown in FIG. 3. With tab 40 positioned on bar 25 as seen in FIGS. l and 3 the tab may be moved longitudinally along the bar until projection 56 seats itself in a depression 37. Thus, tab 40 may be selectively positioned along folder leaf 15, the position being determined by the locations of depressions 37. Since the reinforcement member 25 on folder leaf 17 is identical to that on folder leaf 15 described hereinabove, index tab 40 is adapted for use on each reinforcement member so as to increase the possible usage and versatility of file folder 13. The index tab 40 may he readily detached from reinforcement member 25 by grasping portion 42 and moving same clockwise as seen in FIG. 3, until toe 58 is withdrawn from the lower edge of leg 29. Thereafter, the tab 40 is moved vertically until it is free of member 25.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and identical reference characters with a sufiix A are used to indicate like parts in both embodiments. Reinforcement member 25A differs from member 25 in that one row of depressions 59 are provided -on leg 29A. In addition, depressions 60 in leg 31A extend completely through the leg rather than terminate short of the opposite surface of leg 31A. Further, the depressions 59 and 60 are in horizontal alignment with each other so that portions of folder leaf 15A deformed by formation of depressions 59 protrude into depressions 60. Depressions 60 serve in the same manner as depressions 37 to selectively and positively position index tab 40A by accommodating the seating of projection 56A therein. Leg 29A of reinforcement member 25A and leg 50A of tab 40A differ from legs 29 and 50 of the first embodiment in that both have lower portions 61 and 62, respectively, bent in a direction away from their integral legs 31A and 52A. The toe portion 58A in this embodiment is of substantially U-shaped configuration with the portion closer folder leaf 15A being disposed in the space between leg portion 62 and the folder leaf.

In the construction of the second embodiment just described, index tab 40A is mounted on reinforcement member 25A by rst inserting a hook 27A between legs 50A and 52A and engaging toe portion 58A with leg 62, thence moving index tab 40 longitudinally of reinforcement member 25A until leg 52A engages leg 31A whereby the index tab is thus mounted on member 25A. Thereafter, index tab 40A is moved until projection 56A on leg 52A seats itself in the desired depression 37A.

It may now be understood that the present invention provides a novel filing means wherein an index tab of simple construction is easily and quickly mounted and detached from a reinforcement member or bar of similar simple construction.

Although two embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes can be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. Filing means comprising in combination, a sheet of material having an upper edge portion, a reinforcement member for said upper edge portion including a pair of parallel disposed rst and second vertical legs straddling and extending commensurate with said upper edge portion, a pair of parallel rows of horizontally aligned depressions formed in the first leg of the reinforcement member with each pair of adjacent depressions of said parallel rows arranged in vertical alignment, a single row of depressi-ons formed in the second leg of the reinforcement member with each depression in said single row being associated with a pair of vertically aligned depressions on said rst leg of the reinforcement member and intermediate the upper and lower depressions of said pair of vertically aligned depressions, an index tab including a plate member having a substantially upright portion having a folded over marginal portion for carrying indexing information therein, said plate member having a pair of spaced lower and parallel resilient vertical legs formed integrally with and depending from said upright portion and straddling said reinforcement member for sliding relationship therewith, the associated legs of said index tab and said reinforcement member having their adjacent surfaces in sliding contact with each other, one of said legs of the index tab being struck out of the other leg of the plate member, said one leg of the index tab having an upper portion extending at right angles to the other leg of the index tab and in sliding contact with the upper edge of said reinforcement member, an inturned lower edge portion of the other leg of said index tab being in engagement with a bottom edge portion of the first leg of the reinforcement member to prevent movement of said index tab in a direction toward the upright portion of the index tab, and a single projection formed on said one leg of the index tab for engaging one of said depressions on the second leg of the reinforcement member to provide for selective and positive positioning of said index tab along the upper edge of said sheet of material.

2. Filing means comprising in combination, a sheet of material having an upper edge portion, a reinforcement member substantially U-shaped in transverse cross section for said upper edge portion including a pair of first and second parallel vertical legs straddling and extending commensurate with said upper edge portion, said first leg having a lower edge portion bent out of the plane of the remainder of the leg and spaced from said sheet, a single row of horizontally aligned depressions formed in said first leg of the reinforcement member, a row of horizontally aligned depressions formed in the second leg of the reinforcement member with each of said latter depressions aligned with a companion depression in said rst leg of the reinforcement member,.the depressions in the second leg of said reinforcement member extending through said second leg to accommodate material of said sheet pushed into the depressions on said second leg by the depressions in said first leg, an index tab having a substantially upright folded over marginal por-tion for carrying indexing information therein, said index tab having a pair of spaced lower and parallel resilient vertical legs formed integrally with and depending from said upright portion and straddling said reinforcement member for sliding relationship therewith, the associated legs of said index tab and said reinforcement member having their adjacent surfaces in sliding contact with each other, one of said legs of the index tab being struck out of the other leg of said index tab, said one leg of the index tab having an upper portion extending at right tangles to the other leg of the index tab and in sliding contact with the bight portion of said reinforcement member, the lower edge portion of said other leg of the index tab being bent in U-shaped manner to straddle the lower edge portion of the first leg of the reinforcement member whereby the said lower edge of said other leg of the index tab is disposed between the sheet and the lower edge of said first leg of the reinforcement member, and a single projection formed on said one leg of the index tab and having a convex surface adapted for seating in one of said depressions in the second leg of the reinforcement member to provide for selective and positive positioning of said index tab along the upper edge of said sheet of material.

(References on following page) 5 Y. References Cited by the Examiner 1,306,284

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,679,846 6/1954 Addison 129-168 X 7055826 2,910,985 11/1959 Epstein er 61. 129-168 5 189,324 FOREIGN PATENTS 321,124

632,908 12/1961 Canada.

1,052,367 9/1953 France.

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

1. FILING MEANS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A SHEET OF MATERIAL HAVING AN UPPER EDGE PORTION, A REINFORCEMENT MEMBER FOR SAID UPPER EDGE PORTION INCLUDING A PAIR OF PARALLEL DISPOSED FIRST AND SECOND VERTICAL LEGS STRADDLING AND EXTENDING COMMENSURATE WITH SAID UPPER EDGE PORTION, A PAIR OF PARALLEL ROWS OF HORIZONTALLY ALIGNED DEPRESSIONS FORMED IN THE FIRST LEG OF THE REINFORCEMENT MEMBER WITH EACH PAIR OF ADJACENT DEPRESSIONS OF SAID PARALLEL ROWS ARRANGED IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT, A SINGLE ROW OF DEPRESSIONS FORMED IN THE SECOND LEG OF THE REINFORCEMENT MEMBER WITH EACH DEPRESSION IN SAID SINGLE ROW BEING ASSOCIATED WITH A PAIR OF VERTICALLY ALIGNED DEPRESSIONS ON SAID FIRST LEG OF THE REINFORCEMENT MEMBER AND INTERMEDIATE THE UPPER AND LOWER DEPRESSIONS OF SAID PAIR OF VERTICALLY ALIGNED DEPRESSIONS, AN INDEX TAB INCLUDING A PLATE MEMBER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT PORTION HAVING A FOLDED OVER MARGINAL PORTION OF CARRYING INDEXING INFORMATION THEREIN, SAID PLATE MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED LOWER AND PARALLEL RESILIENT VERTICAL LEGS FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH DEPENDING FROM SAID UPRIGHT PORTION AND STRADDLING SAID REINFORCEMENT MEMBER FOR SLIDLING RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH, THE ASSOCIATED LEGS OF SAID INDEX TAB 